San Diego is a proud military community that plays a critical role in our national defense. We wish our troops success and safety as they embark on this dangerous mission. San Diegans know better than most the true cost of war, for our servicemembers and their families back home. We mourn alongside the families of the U.S. soldiers killed in Kuwait on Sunday.  

Before our nation becomes further engaged in another burdensome conflict, Congress must be fully briefed as to whether this attack was justified and how we move forward. The Constitution gives Congress the authority to declare war, and that responsibility is not optional. Briefing Congress on international conflicts isn't required just so we're informed. It's a fundamental step to build national unity and make sound decisions that affect our troops and our constituents. Yesterday, I voted for the War Powers Resolution to ensure that Congress fully exercises its constitutional authority to declare war, but I was frustrated that my Republican colleagues did not agree and the measure did not pass. 

I remained concerned and opposed to sending our troops deeper into harm’s way with no clear strategy, scope, or defined outcome as to what our involvement in this war would achieve. Congress must not allow the administration to drag the nation into another war with no known end and uncertain human costs. Especially not when we face real and serious challenges at home. Measles is reemerging in parts of our country. We are running a $2 trillion annual deficit. Families are dealing with a skyrocketing affordability crisis, including the widespread loss of health care. And the Department of Homeland Security is shut down, which only weakens our nation.  

The Department of Homeland Security is in turmoil. It has been shut down since February 13th and yesterday, Kristi Noem was removed as Secretary. She deserved this for enabling unjustified violence and the deaths of our neighbors, including American citizens, and for wasting hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on performative ads and actions. But we need to change how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operates entirely, not just change their figurehead. President Trump’s message did not indicate that he's open to badly needed reforms. That’s why the DHS shutdown has dragged on, due to the President and Congressional Republicans’ refusal to hold ICE and Border Patrol to the same standard as local law enforcement officers who ensure accountability and make our communities safer. 

Yesterday, I voted against funding for DHS because the legislation failed to include meaningful guardrails on ICE and CBP and because ICE simply does not need more money. President Trump and Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1) already gave ICE and Border Patrol over $170 billion - more than the U.S. Marines and more than most militaries around the world. Both agencies have more than enough money to continue their reckless operations for the entirety of President Trump’s term. But ICE and CBP have not been affected by the shutdown. It is, however, disrupting the livelihoods of vital federal employees, as well as our disaster response, aviation security, maritime safety, and cybersecurity.   

The security of our nation and the paychecks of our workers shouldn’t pause because Congress has failed to do its job and negotiate a compromise to re-open DHS. 

That’s why I introduced legislation to fund critical, law-abiding components of DHS during a shutdown, excluding ICE and CBP. My Homeland Security Continuity and Accountability Act would give the DHS Secretary (no matter who that is) the authority to transfer funds previously allocated to ICE and CBP under H.R. 1 to FEMA, TSA, the Coast Guard, and other DHS agencies during shutdowns. This would allow the Secretary to ensure that all necessary DHS functions continue and that staff receive paychecks as Congress negotiates much-needed guardrails for immigration enforcement.

At a time when our nation is under increased threat due to President Trump’s war abroad, it’s imperative that we fund the Coast Guard, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and other agencies that protect our national security. But we cannot give up this opportunity to implement badly needed reforms to ICE. My bill solves this problem in the short term.  

I’ll continue to push back on President Trump and Congressional Republicans' actions that weaken the U.S. and threaten the lives of our troops and the safety of our community members.  

• Axios broke down the services and daily essentials that will cost more as the U.S. continues to wage war in Iran.  

• This NYTimes article talks about the dangers of worsening climate change and more frequent and severe wildfires straining global resources to fight fires.